Pieterskerk Leiden

The Pieterskerk has been a central monument in Leiden since the twelfth century. With almost 900 years worth of history, the Pieterskerk has been an important meeting place in Dutch history.In 1121 the Count of Holland dedicated a chapel to saints Peter and Paul on this spot. The first church of Leiden was expanded over the centuries. Until 1512 there was a tower more than 100 meters high on the west side of the church, the tower collapsed one night, never to be pulled up again.

When the Pilgrims left Leiden, John Robinson, leader of the Pilgrims, at a ripe age at that time, stayed behind in Leiden. He died in 1625 and was buried in the Pieterskerk. The tomb of Robinson must have been in the baptistery, but the exact place is not known.